Arizona Lands 2015 Super Bowl

The third time is the charm as the NFL today awarded the 2015 Super Bowl to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

NFL owners meeting in Houston picked the Valley of the Sun over Tampa, Fla., for the 2015 game, Arizona previously hosted the Super Bowl in 1996 (at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe) and in 2008 (at UOP Stadium).

The Super Bowl is expected to add a much-needed boost to the state’s sagging economy. In 2008, fans spent an estimated $500 million when the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14.

According to the Associated Press, Phoenix beat the Tampa area in the bidding on the second ballot. Tampa has hosted the game in 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009. The 2012 Super Bowl is in Indianapolis. The next two after that will be in New Orleans and the New York/New Jersey area.

In a statement released today, the City of Glendale expressed pride in being the host city, calling the game, “ an economic engine that benefits our entire state. This decision is a positive reinforcement on the entire region, highlighting our ability to put Arizona on a stage for the world to see.

“Glendale’s opportunity to host a Super Bowl honors the continued commitment to Arizona voters to use the state-of-the-art University of Phoenix stadium and the amenities and infrastructure that were built around the stadium in Glendale to attract hundreds of thousands of people while also pumping money into the local economy. “

About Peter Madrid

Peter Madrid has more than 30 years of experience in the newspaper industry as an editor and reporter at USA Today, Kansas City Star, Tucson Citizen and Arizona Republic. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico.